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An El Cajon councilman is asking his colleagues to distance themselves from former Councilwoman Jillian Hanson-Cox by officially condemning her actions.

Hanson-Cox was sentenced to 30 months in prison after admitting she stole $3.5 million from her former employer, Kearny Mesa-based Century Design Inc., which she used to fund such activities as the community's Mother Goose Parade as well as to enrich herself.

“There is no excuse, nor is there any justification, for her actions,” states the resolution by Councilman Gary Kendrick. “While none of the embezzled funds came from the city... she nonetheless harmed our city by bringing shame upon herself as a public official.

“In doing so, she violated the trust placed in her by the citizens of our city. The City Council... strongly disapproves of all of her actions, and asks that we all focus our sympathies solely on her victims.”

The council is to vote on the resolution on Tuesday. Hanson-Cox’s attorney, Charles Sevilla, declined to comment on the resolution.

More than 100 people – including Mayor Mark Lewis and Councilman Bob McClellan — wrote letters to a U.S. District Court vouching for Hanson-Cox's character and generosity in an effort to persuade the judge to give her a more lenient sentence last month.

After considering the community outpouring, Judge Michael Anello’s sentence was 21 months fewer than the minimum 51-month sentence recommended under federal sentencing guidelines.

Several supporters, including Lewis and El Cajon information officer Monica Zech, recanted their support for Hanson-Cox when approached by The Watchdog after the sentencing. They said they only learned of the full scope of Hanson-Cox’s actions in court records released after they wrote the letters.

Prior to the hearing, the public was only aware of the spending Hanson-Cox did on community causes such as hiring celebrities for the annual Mother Goose parade.

After the hearing, The Watchdog revealed that Hanson-Cox used the money for personal expenses such as $67,000 each at Nordstrom and St. John’s Knits; $21,000 on jewelry from Tiffany’s; $18,000 for designer apparel at high-end retailers like Giorgio Armani, $30,000 for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, $30,000 for a Porsche, $40,000 for a boat and trailer, $23,000 on cosmetic surgery and dentistry, $9,000 for a two-night stay at The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel and spa, and $170,000 for landscaping and artificial turf for her home.

Kendrick’s resolution speaks to the new information.

“Whereas, while many within the community sent letters of support on behalf of Hanson-Cox to the court, this was done before the full nature of her crime being made public,” the resolution states.

Kendrick said he felt it was necessary for the council to take the step of telling its citizenry that the actions were unsupportable. The resolution, he said, is the strongest action that the council can take on a former member, akin to a censure.

“It’s important we set the record straight that we don’t condone those crimes in any way,” he said. “Some people still think of her as a hero because she donated money to charities and nothing could be further from the truth.”